Lewis Ski Boats - Advice?

[calais]

G'day All,

I am writing to seek out some advice about buying and owning a lewis ski boat.

For a while now I've been looking out for a good ski boat to call my own, and so far have really come up against nothing more than dreamers and downright liars. Boats that supposedly have low hours but look like theyve been used as water taxis, 'new' motors just been given a dulux rebuild, smashed propellers, trashed interiors...... The list goes on. Ive seen a bit in the last 18 months and I'm hoping that my luck might be about to change.

Fortunately for me, im just about to return home to Australia after another few month stint overseas and my partner just sent me a link to a boat on gumtree which has both of our attention. But I typically havent considered a lewis before, but am dead keen to find out more.

Heres the boat here
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/wyee-...2?mobile=false

Does anyone have any insight to share about what I might need to look for with a lewis in particular? Or any other advice for that matter

Cheers

[deesun]

Lewis ski boats been around for a long time. Always known for quality a bit above. Used by and at shows and exhibitions. And they look great.

[burnz]

yep sold a lewis exel with 383 small block, around 6 months ago.
now looking for a lewis tournament with a mercruiser or similar.

very sturdy boat with good turning, virtually no ploughing at hard rudder.

[calais]

Cheers, so far the one im keen on is a lewis mirage, but i havent been able to find out very much information about them specifically...... Anything about the 350 chev marinised engine for example?

[deesun]

here http://www.lewisboats.com.au/index.html

[Sam]

Do you have a budget?

[burnz]

Originally Posted by calais

Cheers, so far the one im keen on is a lewis mirage, but i havent been able to find out very much information about them specifically...... Anything about the 350 chev marinised engine for example?

all marinised road engines are about the same, used a PWR oil cooler.
note: the oil cooler was similar to a single core turbo intercooler shaped to the sump, its actually placed in the oil and must clear the rotating crank shaft....car oil cooler are not good enough.
my next build will use a dry sump with a standard external auto gearbox oil cooler...
other cooling is header cooling which is mandatory, personal choice "indmar" header/water dump.

[naughts]

I bought a stage 2 Lewis tournament skier about 15 years ago. Put a 350 chev in it and soft clutch. Was the best boat I owned. The lads called it a "go cart" because we could turn it in the Murray river doing about 50MPH. The thing handled like it was on rails. Pulled 3 barefoot skiers without to much difficultly. Cannot say anything bad about them.

[Jason[98.EL]]

when we were looking at ski boats it was a hard choice shepero or lewis

we ended up with the shepero due to lewis at the time not selling boats with out a trailer

the lewis are a great boat and if I was looking ( i might be in a few years ) the lewis would be my choice by far ( shepero are no longer made )

Jason

[Pedro]

They must be good to stay in business for so long. We always used Lewis hulls in our ski boats back in the sixties.

[calais]

Cheers for the replies

Its still a week until I can go and check that mirage out. And ive had some good advice coming in all week so far, so I'm feeling much better about what to look for.

So far from all accounts its an immaculate rig, lets just hope the reality is the same

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

I used to own a 19'6" Lewis Fiberglass ex race boat. Stock 350 maranised chev , argo V-drive with a dog clutch just for social skiing . Awsome boat . Just got to keep up maintanace and they will serve you loyaly . That boat used to haul *** and turn so hard if ya knew how to drive it properly ! Center mount are more comfortable to social ski out of though !